Automatic switch for vacuum cleaners



Sept. 21, 1937. H. H. COLEMAN AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed June 1, 1936 INVENTOR. Harv/d H Co leman BY E2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 21 1937 AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Harold H. Coleman, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor of one-hall to Morris Goldstone, Broolrlyn, N. Y.

Application June 1, 1936, Serial No. 82,840 v 2 Claims.

The invention relates to switches of the mercury type and has'ior its main object to provide an automatic and highly eflicient switch for vacuum cleaners of the portable type. Another object is to provide a switch construction which may readily be inserted in or attached to the handle bar of vacuum cleaners of the various types without necessitating any radical changes in such cleaners.

A'iurther object is to provide a device of simple, but strong construction, which has no parts easily broken or apt to get out of order, which is completely enclosed in the handle bar, which is automatically operated by the move ments of the handle bar of the cleaner, as this is raised and lowered when the cleaner is operated, and which can be manufactured and installed at a relatively low cost.

These and various other objects and advantages will be readily understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which, however, modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the drawing Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the upper end of the handle bar of a vacuum cleaner showing the present invention inserted therein and with the switch open,

Fig. 2 is a similar view shown with the switch closed,

Fig. 3 is an end view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the switch mechanism,

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of one of the parts of the switch, and

Fig. 6 is a top view of another part of the switch.

. Referring now to all the views, simultaneously, the tubular handle bar of a vacuum cleaner is shown at l8 and the handle proper at II. The mercury switch, which is of the regular type consisting of a sealed glass tube having two cupshaped projections, is shown at I2, and the contact wires, which are sealed in the projections, at l3 and I4.

The mercury switch is cemented to a support i5 which is provided with a cover It. The support I and the projections of the mercury switch fit in two openings l8 and is formed in the support. Both the support and the cover are made oi insulating material.

A recess is preferably molded in the support and in this recess three terminal screws 2i, 22 and 23 are mounted in metal eyelets molded in the support. One of the wires 24, of the cord 25 leading to a source of electric current, is secured by thescrew 2| as is also the end of the wire l3 of the mercury'switch. The other wire 26, of the cord 25, is secured by the screw 22 as is also one of the wires 21 of the cord 28 which leads to the motor of the vacuum cleaner. The other wire 29 of this cord, as well as the wire I4 of the mercury switch, is secured under the head of the screw 23.

A recess 30 is molded in the cover Hi to accommodate the heads of the terminal screws. A circular boss 3| is formed on the other side of the cover and fits in a circular opening 32 formed in the tubular handle bar In. Holes 33 and 34 are molded in the cap and threaded holes 35 and 36 in the support and the two parts are secured together and clamped to the handle bar It by means of screws 31 and 33 inserted in these holes. To properly align the parts, particularly while they are being inserted in the handle bar, bosses 39 and 40 are formed on the supports and sockets 4| and 42, into which the bosses fit, are formed in the cap. The top surface of the mercury in the switch is indicated in each view by the broken line 43.

The switch operates in the following manner. It is well known that most portable vacuum cleaners are provided with a handle member which may be locked in a vertical position, when the vacuum cleaner is not used, and which may be lowered to any convenient angle, while the vacuum cleaner is used. It is customary to use an ordinary, manually-operated switch so that,

when the handle is in the operating position, the

motor of the cleaner can be started and when in the inoperative position, it can be stopped.

In the present invention the switch acts automatically when the handle is moved. When the handle is in the vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, the mercury does not contact with the contact wire I3, hence no current can flow. However, when the handle is tilted, as in Fig. 2, the mercury covers both the contact wires l3 and i4 and thus the' circuit is closed and the machine will operate. The current now flows through wire 24, contact wire l3, through the mercury in the switch, the contact wire I3, wire I! which leads to the motor, and back through wires 21 and 26 5 to the source of electricity to which the device turned to its vertical position, the current is broken, as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that th switch is entirely automatic in its operation, is entirely concealed in the handle where there is no danger of breakage or interference. and that it may be attached to and made. part of any vacuum cleaner which employs a tubular handle member. However, the switch may also be attached on theoutside of the handle, as long as it is so attached to the handle as to be actuatedby its movement.

Having described the invention and its objects, what I claim as new and wish to protect byLetters Patent is 1. A switch mechanism of the class described comprising; a stright and hermetically sealed glass tube having two spaced contact wires inserted in one side and containing a quantity of mercury; a recessed support for said tube; binding posts contained in said recess for connecting said contact wires to a source of electric current and to the motor of the vacuum cleaner on which the switch mechanism is employed; a cap for covering said recess and the parts contained therein;

means for correctly aligning said cap and support;

may be attached. When the handle is again rethe support and cap, when assembled, adapted to fit inside'of the tubular handle member of the vacuum cleaner; a cylindrical boss formed on the cap for engagement in a circular opening formed in such handle member; and common means for securing the support and the cap on the inside of such handle member.

2. A switch mechanism of the class described comprising; a straight and hermetically sealed glass tube having two spaced contact wires inserted in one side and containing a quantity of mercury; a recessed supportfor said tube; binding posts contained in said recess for connecting said contact wires to a source of electric current and to the motor of the vacuum cleaner on which the switch mechanism is employed; a cap for covering said recess and the parts contained therein; means for correctly aligning said cap and support; the support and cap, when assembled, comprising a semi-circular body member of the same diameter as the tubular handle member of the vacuum cleaner; a cylindrical boss formed 

